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Energy Matrix #1 : Are We Ready for Energy Change ?

What is this survey ? This survey is about your views on the future of energy, and the changes that will take place. Why take part in this survey ? If you spend 15 to 20 minutes to give your opinion of the 30 statements in this survey, you will be contributing to an ambitious university study.

Please give yourself 15 to 20 minutes to complete the survey. With each statement, please click the option that best matches your view. Please don’t forget to answer the general questions at the end, which will help with making the final report.

NUCLEAR POWER

The age of nuclear power is coming to a close as there will not be a replacement for every nuclear reactor shut down at the end of its working life.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

The plan for new nuclear power plants in the UK will experience serious delays due to risks and uncertainties.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Global competition for nuclear engineers and nuclear fuel will mean new capacity cannot grow at a high rate.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

The rising costs (and risks) of safe nuclear engineering will mean that it will become tougher to finance new nuclear power plants.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

New designs for nuclear power are untested and will not be ready to use for 20 years.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

The risks of breakdown in nuclear power plants make them unreliable, and force the National Grid to depend on backup power supply, high in carbon dioxide emissions.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

OIL (TRANSPORT)

Sharp swings in the prices of vehicle fuels such as diesel, petrol and kerosene aeroplane fuel will badly damage international trade, particularly in the transportation of food and consumer goods.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

The vehicle manufacturing industry will face economic difficulties in rolling out significant numbers of new low carbon cars in the period to 2030.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

It will be common for people to drive high mileage mopeds and microcars running on compressed renewable gas by 2030.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

The cost of fuel will continue to rise as energy stocks and shares become a home for financial speculation.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

New discoveries of crude oil will be small and in awkward places, with a diminishing return on investment.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Biofuels such as Biodiesel and Bioethanol from crops, bacteria and algae will be slow to become widespread and might not offer an overall reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

RENEWABLE ENERGY

In an economic framework of low growth it could be hard to source the steel, glass and concrete construction needed to accelerate Renewable Energy deployment.

Renewable Energy particularly from solar, wind and the sea have the capability to provide for all global energy needs.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Targeted financial incentives to encourage investment in renewable energy will no longer be needed when the technologies are mature.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Renewable gas from sewage treatment, farm waste and other sources could be fed into the National Grid and provide something like a quarter of all the UK’s needs.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Some renewable energy sources are variable, like the wind. However, increasing the range of sources, finding ways to store energy, and connecting to other countries, will ensure that emergency backup is only rarely used.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

NATURAL GAS

There will start to be global Natural Gas shortages in about 20 years’ time.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Compressed Natural Gas vehicles will be increasingly deployed in anticipation of a ramp up in Renewable Gas.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Due to the cost and safety questions surrounding Carbon Capture and new Nuclear Power, the world will increasingly turn to Natural Gas for electricity generation, transportation and building heat.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

As the world economy becomes progressively dependent on Natural Gas, there will be actions taken to control its price.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Producing shale gas, a widely-reported new source of Natural Gas, is suspected of causing pollution to underground water systems and the wells rapidly run out.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Switching from coal burning to Natural Gas in electricity power stations could cut carbon dioxide emissions by round about a half.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

COAL POWER

The global consumption of coal is so fast that 45 years of known reserves were used in the last 5 years. It is likely that the world will see problems in the supply of coal within 20 years.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

The International Energy Agency projects that new coal-fired power plants will continue to be built at a high rate.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

About half of all the UK’s electricity is generated from burning coal, and this percentage will only drop a small way by 2030.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Coal consumption is high and this will lead to stress in supply and price.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Carbon capture and storage, promoted to reduce emissions from coal burning at power stations, will not be widespread before 2030.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

The best way to avoid carbon dioxide emissions from coal power is to invest strongly in energy conservation.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly agree

Not sure

Background Information Please give a few brief details about what kind of person you are, to help us check that a representative sample of people have answered the survey.

What region are you living in ?

How old are you ?

What gender are you ?

How do you prefer to keep up to date with science ?

Is Climate Change really happening ?

Is Peak Oil really happening ?

Do you know a lot about energy ?

Enter your e-mail address if you want the final results

General Questions This is your chance to explain in more detail what you think, and add any comments you would like to make. For starters, here are some sample questions you might have ideas about :-1. In your view, what will be the most major change in energy systems in the next 20 years ?2. Who is responsible for making significant change to the energy systems ?3. How will the major changes in energy systems be paid for ?